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Colon Free Trade Zone

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Industrial site

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The Colon Free Trade Zone (Zona Libre de Colón) is located at the Atlantic entrance of the Panama Canal and stands as the largest free trade zone in the Western Hemisphere. Established in 1948, it was designed to foster regional trade and capitalize on Panama's strategic role as a global transit hub. Spanning approximately 450 hectares, the zone hosts over 2,000 companies involved in importing, warehousing, and re-exporting goods from across the globe. It serves as a massive distribution center for products such as textiles, electronics, perfumes, and pharmaceuticals, primarily serving markets in Latin America and the Caribbean. The zone is a critical driver of the Panamanian economy, providing tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs. Its proximity to the Port of Cristobal and the Manzanillo International Terminal ensures seamless integration with major international shipping lanes.

Location: Panama
Top sights: Colón, Panama · Barrio Sur, Panama · Barrio Norte, Panama
Nearby: Coronado (16 km)

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan–Mar.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	27	27	27	28	28	28	27	27	28	27	27	27
Rain mm	31	11	21	96	269	285	284	275	269	280	272	120

📋 Practical info

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What is this place?

The Colon Free Trade Zone is the second-largest in the world, serving as a massive commercial and logistics center for the Americas. It has duty-free warehousing, packaging, and transshipment of all kinds of goods.

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Visiting

The zone is a bustling commercial complex accessible to business visitors but not to tourists. Viewing the exterior areas is possible from main roads surrounding the complex.

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Where to view it

From the bridge over the entrance, you get a good view of countless warehouses and containers. The Port of Colon also features an interesting perspective on maritime cargo transport.

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Local products

The zone transships products from all over the world, including electronics, clothing, jewelry, and perfumes. Visitors constantly see trucks with containers and pallets moving between warehouses.

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Active season

Operations are very intense year-round, with peaks during the global holiday season before Christmas and Chinese New Year. Weekdays are bustling around the clock.

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Nearby

Combine a visit with Colón's old town (Casco Viejo) and Fort San Lorenzo. The Caribbean coast with beaches like Isla Grande is also nearby.

Geography

Coordinates

9.35700, -79.89700

Facts

Established in 1948 by government decree.
The second largest free trade zone in the world after Hong Kong.
Home to more than 2,500 registered import and export firms.
Annual trade volume reaches several billion US dollars.
Occupies an area of approximately 450 hectares in Colón.
Goods are exempt from import duties and various local taxes.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Cristóbal<1 km · SExplore →

Manzanillo International Terminal1 km · NExplore →

Gatun Lake4 km · SWExplore →

Panama Canal5 km · WExplore →

Chiriqui Grande Oil Terminal6 km · SExplore →

Fort San Lorenzo11 km · SExplore →

Panama Gold Mining Site12 km · NWExplore →

Altos de Campana highlands13 km · WExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Start Destination Via (optional)

Overnight stops

Vehicle

Only stops with (optional): 💧 Water ♻️ Disposal 🔌 Power 🚻 Toilets 🚿 Shower

Sights in the town Colon Free Trade Zone (3)

Colón, Panama📍 landmark

Colón is a port city on Panama's Caribbean coast, near the Costa Rican border.

Barrio Sur, Panama📍 landmark

Barrio Sur is a neighborhood in Colón, known for its historic buildings.

Barrio Norte, Panama📍 landmark

Barrio Norte is located in northern Colón, a residential area with local shops.

Sights nearby

Frequently asked questions

What is the Colón Free Trade Zone?

It is the second-largest free trade zone in the world and a hub for import and export.

Can tourists shop there?

Yes, it is intended for wholesale, but many shops also offer retail.

What should you note when visiting?

You need an ID for access and should follow the safety rules.

Is it safe?

Inside the zone, there are high security measures; outside in Colón, exercise caution.

How to get there?

By car or taxi from Panama City in about an hour via the highway.

Colon Free Trade Zone: where is it located?

Colon Free Trade Zone is located in Panama.

Colon Free Trade Zone: what is there to see?

Highlights include Colón, Panama, Barrio Sur, Panama, Barrio Norte, Panama.

Colon Free Trade Zone: when is the best time to visit?

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Mar.

Colon Free Trade Zone: why is it worth visiting?

The Colon Free Trade Zone (Zona Libre de Colón) is located at the Atlantic entrance of the Panama Canal and stands as the largest free trade zone in the Western Hemisphere.

View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →